| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Yearly Cleaning on Regency Gas Fireplace | 9/4/2008 | Howard Livingston |
Q: Wow... this is the first time I've been to this site! What a fabulous idea! People, such as ...
A: Pat for the very kind words. I have semi retired after 35 yrs & this sure keeps my mind ...
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| Condo Wiring Issue? | 9/4/2008 | Howard Livingston |
Q: We appear to be having an electrical issue in our condo. Awhile back our AC was icing up, freon was ...
A: When it rains it pours is true, right ?? Icing is caused by several things: dirty filter, stopped up ...
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| FREIDRICH WALL UNIT | 9/4/2008 | J Cook |
Q: It has been running all summer on money saver mode with the thermostat set between 66 and 70 ...
A: If the fan was blowing at all, the sound appears to be of a locked up compressor. Most of these are ...
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| Kenmore Elite Icemaker | 9/4/2008 | Eric Campion |
Q: Good morning- I have been having ice-maker problems for many months, and a repairman "fixed" the ...
A: The cog should never come loose.....I can help but before I do...We need to find out why. Is the ...
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| Need complete new AC system or not | 9/4/2008 | Craig HVAC Expert |
Q: Here is my situation. I recently bought a 30+ years old condo in west LA. 2/2 1100 sq ft currently ...
A: Considering the life span of a unit is about 15 years, I would look to replace the unit. You should ...
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| CENTRAL AIR NOT COLD | 9/4/2008 | Craig HVAC Expert |
Q: HAD HIGH ELECTRIC BILL. NOTICED AC UNIT NOT SHUTTING DOWN ON ITS OWN. 96 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND 90 ...
A: The system could still be under-charged. It is not normal to find units that have been working for ...
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| HOT WATER TANK DRAINING | 9/4/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: IS there a standard preventive maintenance requirement to drain,at regular intervals, my natural gas ...
A: Ken, Your water heater tank by way of a tube inside fills from the bottom up. Any type of sediment ...
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| gas hot water heater | 9/4/2008 | Bill Brainard |
Q: I am getting conflicting advice from neighbors re Should I drain the water from my natural gas hot ...
A: This is simple. Drain 5 to 10 gallons every month. Not the whole thing. Minerals are heavy, they ...
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| variable speed furnaces | 9/4/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: I am purchasing a new furnace and like the idea of a variable speed motor for comfort and savings. ...
A: Kurt, I don't know what savings there are in a variable speed motor. I think the end resultes is the ...
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| A/C and Furnace pick | 9/3/2008 | Craig HVAC Expert |
Q: I am about to pick an A/C and furnace system and facing a picking from TRANE and Carrier. They are ...
A: If both units have the same effciency, and the price is close, then next look at the warranty. If ...
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| Air conditioner condensate leaking/plugged | 9/3/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: I've got a 7-year old furnace. The drain line on the air conditioner condensate won't always drain ...
A: Eric, The condensate drain should be 3/4? Whoever installed the PVC reduced it down to 1/2". The ...
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| NEW AC needed or not? | 9/3/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: here is my situation. I recently bought a 30+ years old condo in west LA. 2/2 1100 sq ft currently ...
A: Betty, Fiberglass duct's can last a life time, it all depends on what shape/condition they are in. ...
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| Rheem 3ton split system R-410A | 9/3/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: My A/C went down yesterday, and I called the company I have a maintenance contract with. They said ...
A: Lisa, If your already in the process of having a new AC installed I think your kind of shutting the ...
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| a/c not cooling | 9/3/2008 | Craig HVAC Expert |
Q: I live in a 3 story townhome (2000 sq ft) and have a Armstrong Air Ultra V inside unit with a ...
A: Depending on the type of filter used, construction dust is very bad for an evap coil. The dust gets ...
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| NEW AC needed or not? | 9/3/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: here is my situation. I recently bought a 30+ years old condo in west LA. 2/2 1100 sq ft currently ...
A: Betty, I assume that you have to do your option #1 regardless? I have no idea of what all is ...
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| variable speed furnace/motors | 9/3/2008 | Howard Livingston |
Q: I am purchasing a new furnace and like the idea of a variable speed motor for comfort and savings. ...
A: The variable speed motor ramps up from 50 rpm to about 1100 rpm for cooling, the common speed. So ...
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| RUDD Silhouette II | 9/3/2008 | Craig HVAC Expert |
Q: How can I tell if this furnace is set up for Natural Gas or Propane? It was in storage from a closed ...
A: The unit should be clearly marked on the name plate NG or LPG. You might also find markings on the ...
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| ac unit not working | 9/3/2008 | J Cook |
Q: I have an air conditioner that is blowing but not blowing cold. When we first turned it on monthes ...
A: The outdoor unit is on a different circuit than the indoor unit with the fan. Make sure the outdoor ...
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| Air conditioner condensate leaking/plugged | 9/3/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: I've got a 7-year old furnace. The drain line on the air conditioner condensate won't always drain ...
A: Eirc, Cooling coils with built on drip pans are not part of a furnace but rather optional add on's, ...
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| too much moisture in my house | 9/3/2008 | Bill Brainard |
Q: I have a Trane hi efficiency air conditioner and furnace. It is probably 12 yrs old. My problem is ...
A: Good God man where do you live?? That is a lot of moisture. A/C units are not made to remove ...
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| Furnaces | 9/2/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: Jim,I am ready to replace an old furnace with a 90+% efficient one. The house is a 1330 sq. ft. ...
A: JoAnn. I never could understand the benefit of a two stage furnace? I think if you want to heat ...
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| Tripping CB in afternoon on start | 9/1/2008 | Howard Livingston |
Q: My AC has been tripping the CB only in the afternoons during start up. I can reset the CB and it ...
A: Where do you live in Phoenix ?? Your problems can often occur when the circuit breaker box is on a ...
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| Blower on my ac unit seems to get stuck. | 9/1/2008 | Bill Brainard |
Q: I have a Payne ac/furnace. When the blower is suppose to start up, it makes a humming noise and the ...
A: I assume you mean the inside unit. At over 20 years old, it is working at 50% efficiency and at its ...
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| leak in evaporation cell | 9/1/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: I purchased a home warranty program 8/11 which also included undetectable pre existing conditions. ...
A: Lisa, Deal directley with the extended warrenty company. Take them to small claims court if you have ...
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| Bryant 90 plus RED LIGHT and NO AC | 9/1/2008 | Howard Livingston |
Q: My A/AC was working fine until today. The outside A/AC just stops running and upon opening the ...
A: Insure there is power outside, check both breakers. Then check the contactor after calling for ...
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| reehm criterion 11 air condition | 8/31/2008 | Bill Brainard |
Q: insufficient return air flow. not drawing air from inside home drawing air from basement ...
A: I don't know anything about the house or system. I just have to guess. Have you checked the filter? ...
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| A/C unit | 8/31/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: Jim, I have an outside unit that is making a loud noise once it clicks on. It still cooling and ...
A: Tony, If I were there where I could hear and see the unit I would open the casing and try to pin ...
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| Blown 50 amp fuse | 8/30/2008 | Howard Livingston |
Q: Came home from store found A/C not running first thing I did was check the A/C disconnect,but could ...
A: When that happens, Eric, it's usually the compressor shorting to ground. Disconnect all 3 wires to ...
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| airconditioner not cooling | 8/30/2008 | Bill Brainard |
Q: our airconditioner is not cooling, it is blowing air just fine, but it is not cold. amana ...
A: Ahh! more, info. I assume you mean the outside unit. When they humm, quit, then humm again. That ...
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| Non-Cental VHAC Options | 8/29/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: I have a 2 story house that includes 4 rooms in the upstairs and 4 rooms down stairs. My technician ...
A: Chris, Dose the lack of crawl space mean no crawl space like your house is on a cement slab or dose ...
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| AC | 8/29/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: last year we got a whole new airhandler and heat pump on our old ducts. The old system never seemed ...
A: Don, Your air conditioner should be able to cool the area twenty degrees below the outside ...
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| Condensation from AV | 8/29/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: Pan under AC unit in attic keeps filling up with water. Some rust. Drained w/dry vac a week ago. ...
A: Paula, Your not getting whatever it is cleaned out of the drain line/lines. The pan under the AC ...
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| Furnace suggestions. | 8/29/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: My wife and I are looking to replace our furnace and are looking for recommendations. Our current ...
A: Jeff, Why don't you check the rating plate on your furnace and see exactly what the rating is, it ...
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| A/C problem | 8/29/2008 | Howard Livingston |
Q: Residential 3 ton R-22 A/C unit about 13 years old in Dallas. T'stat calls for cooling. 24V and ...
A: Sounds like(my favorite term) the compressor has a locked rotor. Have you measured the locked rotor ...
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| Air conditioner set 79. Less than 1 minute cycle time. | 8/29/2008 | J Cook |
Q: I was running my AC set at 80 degrees with fan on auto, but recently read that that will allow more ...
A: The charge in the unit needs to be checked. This is a classic indication with it short cycling. I ...
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| AC upgade | 8/28/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: I have a 23 year old house with the original ac system. I have been asking local ac companies on ...
A: Travis, A 3,5 ton inside and out takes a 3/4 & 3/8 so no proublem there. For an even bigger capacity ...
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| DUCT WORK REPLACEMENT | 8/28/2008 | J Cook |
Q: SAY I HAVE 6" SUPPLY METAL DUCT AND I WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH FLEX DUCT BECAUSE THE METAL DUCT IS ...
A: Prices vary by region. I would call an HVAC supply, or in some areas Home Depot sells flex duct and ...
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| compressor failures | 8/28/2008 | J Cook |
Q: I have a 4 ton inside/outside unit with gas heater that is about 15 years old. The compressor went ...
A: The question I would have the technician is why he did not replace this filter with the first ...
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| Furnace, AC and filters | 8/27/2008 | Jim Barnhart |
Q: Jim, I was wondering which furnace brand (Lennox, Carrier or Trane) to focus on and saw your ...
A: Rob, First the filter. I don't know where your furnace is installed and how difficult it is to ...
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| using a central air return in a 3000sqft ranch | 8/27/2008 | Craig HVAC Expert |
Q: I have currently a hvac system that is over 20 yrs old. The duct system is even older and most are ...
A: It is common for units to be hung in the attic. They work with the attic temp get into the ...
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